5 Games Launching Next Week: ‘Call of Duty’ and More

If you’re looking for a new game to play, you’ll have a variety of options next week. Too many options, actually, since we’re in that special time of year when blockbuster games come out at a pace so rapid no one could possibly play them all — and that’s to say nothing of the steady stream of indie games landing on PC and console as well. But if you’re ready to move past recent titles like Mafia 3 and Battlefield 1, you won’t have any shortage of choices.

There’s a little something for everyone in next week’s games, whether you’re into shooters, retro-style action games, or just sneaking around and killing dudes. Read on for everything you need to know about the games launching the week of October 31, 2016.

1. Hitman – Episode 6: Hokkaido

One of the most under-appreciated games of 2016 is Hitman, an episodic take on the long-running series. Each episode of this globe-trotting game has brought Agent 47 to a new locale, from the fashion district in Paris to a farm compound in Colorado. This sixth and final episode finds the bald killer in a private hospital and resort in Japan. Here, you’ll sneak through a high-tech medical facility, a sushi restaurant, and a Zen garden to make your kills.

All of the episodes to date have provided great opportunities to prepare creative kills while leaving room for spontaneity when things go sideways. It’s safe to assume we can expect much the same from Hokkaido.

2. Owlboy

Release date: November 1, 2016Platforms: PC

Owlboy is a gorgeous Metroid-inspired action game that’s been in the works for almost 10 years. You play as the eponymous hero, an anthropomorphic owl who flies around to explore expansive, pixelated levels. The developers promise a wide range of environments, retro-style platforming sections, and enormous bosses you’ll have to confront to proceed. If it’s as fun to play as it is to look at, this could be a smart choice for anyone who’s had their fill of blockbuster games lately.

3. Super Dungeon Bros

Thanks to its colorful graphics and rock-’n-roll soundtrack, Super Dungeon Bros looks like an enjoyable co-op brawler. The game lets up to four players band together to beat up undead foes and collect all kinds of loot. It even has cross-platform multiplayer, so if you’re playing on Xbox One, you can connect with a friend playing on a Windows 10 PC. Alternatively, PS4 players can team up with Steam players. But due to Sony and Microsoft’s inability to play nice with one another, there’s no PS4/Xbox One multiplayer.

4. Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare

The Call of Duty series has been on an annual release schedule for the better part of a decade now, so despite how solid the games are, it’s hard to get too excited for any new installment. That said, Infinite Warfare just might rekindle the interest of lapsed fans thanks to its far-future setting and the introduction of spaceship battles. That’s right, when you’re not fighting on solid ground in this game, you’re piloting a weaponized spaceship in dog fights against the enemy. Throw in Jon Snow as the main villain, and you’ve got a recipe for militaristic fun.

5. Mario Party: Star Rush

Release date: November 4, 2016Platforms: Nintendo 3DS

The 14th(!) installment in the Mario Party series is Star Rush, a digital board game that promises a ton of variety thanks to its seven modes and its vast collection of mini-games. The modes can get pretty whacky; Toad Scramble mode, for instance, has no turns, so you and your friends have to dash madly across the board in a race to the finish.

I don’t know why Nintendo would bring a multiplayer game like this to the 3DS instead of the Wii U (or Switch), but at least not everyone needs to have the game in order to play it with friends. As long as your friends have their own 3DS consoles, they can still join in on your game and play without limitations. All they have to do is go to the eShop and download Mario Party: Star Rush – Party Guest Edition for free.